Emerson 250AW restore - Printable Version
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+--- Thread: Emerson 250AW restore (/showthread.php?tid=16444)
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Emerson 250AW restore - klondike98 - 03-27-2017
I finally got some time to work on the Emerson 250AW that I got back in Feb. It has the same chassis as the Emerson 350AW although this time it was supposedly working. All the coils checked out as OK so there was no need to go coil hunting like with the 350AW. This time around I just didn't have the patience to try to reproduce those resistors that I tried to reproduce in the 350AW (they did not really turn out all that well...original is the top one):
[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ypn7fnlatvu2hvy/emerson250AW_07.jpg?raw=1]
...so I simply recapped and carbed. I did preserve the waxed cardboard box that contains the electrolytics so if someone in the future gets the notion they can still replace with more original looking caps and resistors. Emerson folks did lots of mid-air connections with caps and resistors so I simply reproduced their arrangement with modern components. I did add a fuse as well.
[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/wguwokusg18vza1/emerson250AW_05.jpg?raw=1]
Its now playing. I will do an alignment check but it sounds decent and there is a little rust removal that still needs to take place.
[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/lrydttckjy92q12/emerson250AW_03.jpg?raw=1]
On to the cabinet. Its in good shape but missing the back.
[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/swczn5ixogtegsa/emerson250AW_06.jpg?raw=1]
RE: Emerson 250AW restore - morzh - 03-27-2017
Bob,
Beautiful radio, I like those. Mantel type, same as Philco 54 or like, only I like the front panel better on this one. Will look good on a mantelpiece.
RE: Emerson 250AW restore - OldRestorer - 03-28-2017
In the words of a wise old man... That looks Icky
Cant wait to see it all sexified!
RE: Emerson 250AW restore - PhilcoPhan1936 - 05-02-2017
I picked up one of these last summer in Oregon at a swap meet for the Northwest Vintage Radio Society. My 1st curtain burner set. What did you do for the resistance line cord replacement?
RE: Emerson 250AW restore - klondike98 - 05-02-2017
That's an excellent question Jeff....
I did not even consider that the line cord was resistive but figured that the wire wound resistor (175 ohms) was adjusting the voltage for the input power. I saw on the schematic that the input could be 100 to 135 volts AC or DC with 110 being optimal.
So to answer your question...I did not do anything. Seems to work OK but I have never played it for long periods.
So...help me out guys...is this set supposed to have a resistive cord on it?
There is a "how to" on Nostalgiaair for replacing resistive cords.
RE: Emerson 250AW restore - PhilcoPhan1936 - 05-02-2017
Thanks for the tip at Nostalgia Air.
I'll check it out.
RE: Emerson 250AW restore - klondike98 - 05-02-2017
and here's the Radiolaguy's "how to".
RE: Emerson 250AW restore - Mondial - 05-02-2017
Bob, I don't think that radio has a resistor line cord. A resistor cord has three conductors, and yours seems to have only two.
Looking at the photo, it appears there is a large power resistor( Candohm) standing up between the speaker and tuning cap. This might be the 175 ohm filament dropping resistor shown on the schematic?
RE: Emerson 250AW restore - klondike98 - 05-02-2017
Thanks mondial. The cord is a replacement cord but when I took the old cord off there were only 2 wires. Also when I add up the voltage drops across all the tubes and the 175 ohm wire wound resistor at .3 amp (the heater string current) it adds up to about 120 so I'm thinking it was originally a regular power cord. Sound right?
RE: Emerson 250AW restore - PhilcoPhan1936 - 05-02-2017
It's possible my copy is a slightly different model than his. I know mine does have a resistance line cord. The above guides that were linked will come in handy for me, though, thanks!
RE: Emerson 250AW restore - Mondial - 05-02-2017
Yes Bob, that's right. Its possible Emerson made the radio in two versions, with and without the resistor cord. If it had a resistor cord, there would be no stand up 175 ohm resistor, as it would be built into the cord.
A resistor cord has three conductors, two regular and one resistor conductor. The resistor wire goes to the filament string, and the other to go the rectifier and power switch as usual for a transformerless set.
RE: Emerson 250AW restore - klondike98 - 05-02-2017
OK Jeff...
I just wanted to be sure I had not created an unsafe situation by not accounting for the cord resistance in my set if I had missed it. Glad those links will help.
RE: Emerson 250AW restore - klondike98 - 05-02-2017
Thanks mondial!!
RE: Emerson 250AW restore - mcusi - 07-08-2017
I bought one last year, had it worked on by one of guys at my local club. Just wondering about the little red jewel light in the upper front. Mine comes on brightly when you turn it on, but quickly fades out. Is this how it's supposed to work and if so, what's the point???
RE: Emerson 250AW restore - klondike98 - 07-08-2017
pilot lights on all vacuum tube sets usually start bright and then become dimmer as the tubes begin to warm up. The point is to make the red jewel glow a little. positioning of the pilot lamp can, to a limited extent, make the jewel a little brighter or dimmer. I have not finished the cabinet restoration yet so I haven't put my chassis back into the cabinet, otherwise I could tell you more about how much you might be able to move the lamp around.